European authorities provide financial compensation of 4.8 million euros to farmers for losses incurred due to epidemic-related issues - EU provides €4.8 million in compensation for farming losses due to illness-related harm
Foot-and-Mouth Disease: EU Approves €4.8 Million in Aid for Affected German Farms
The European Union (EU) has allocated approximately €4.8 million to compensate German farmers for financial losses incurred due to the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). The majority of the funds will support pig farmers in Brandenburg, as announced by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
FMD was first detected in Brandenburg in January, marking the first occurrence of the disease in Germany in decades. Since mid-April, the country has been declared free of the highly contagious viral disease. The initial outbreak was a significant burden for farmers, according to Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer (CSU).
Rainer emphasized the importance of adhering to existing safety measures to prevent future outbreaks. Although Germany has been cleared of the disease, recent cases in Hungary and Slovakia demonstrate its persistent threat.
In total, the aid package amounts to around €7 million for pig farms. Brandenburg will contribute around €2.8 million, while the remaining €4.2 million is funded by the EU. Dairy farms will receive around €900,000 in compensation, with approximately half coming from EU funds.
Both Hungary and Slovakia have taken measures to control the spread of FMD. In Hungary, livestock transport restrictions are in place, and susceptible animals are only allowed to move within a 10-kilometre radius of outbreaks until May 2025. Authorities in Slovakia have culled thousands of animals and have placed hundreds of farms under strict surveillance and disinfection.
Both countries have trade restrictions on the export of fresh meat and the movement of susceptible animals. Public events featuring animals are also prohibited until May 2025, and there is an emphasis on enhanced surveillance and biosecurity measures to monitor and control the disease.
The Community policy of the European Union (EU) has prioritized health policy by allocating approximately €4.8 million to support German farmers affected by Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), emphasizing the importance of health policy in times of medical-conditions such as this one. In alignment with this approach, health policy has been integral in the EU's management of FMD outbreaks not only in Germany but also in other EU member states, such as Hungary and Slovakia, where health-and-wellness measures have been enforced to control the disease and protect livestock as part of a global health strategy.
